Tag Archives: Keishi Otomo

Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, the second among the three live-action film adaptations of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga, is finally going to be available on DVD and Blu-ray! The copies will be released on December 17 in two editions— a special deluxe edition and a regular edition.

The live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s Rurouni Kenshin manga will premiere in Australia and New Zealand starting this October! The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) will be screening not just Rurouni Kenshin, Kyoto Inferno, and The Legend Ends, but tons of other Japanese movies with English subtitles.

Good news for all the RuroKen fans in England! The second installment of the blockbuster movie Rurouni Kenshin is going to be shown in Leeds, England on November 11 and 13 at Vue in the Light. Kyoto Inferno, the second sequel of the live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga Rurouni Kenshin, is directed by Keishi Otomo and stars Takeru Satoh as the infamous Hitokiri Battousai.

“Set in the early Meiji period, an assassin from the Bakumatsu war returns not as a hitokiri but as the rurouni Kenshin, with his vow not to kill and instead, protect those in need to atone for the murders he committed in the past. But the peace in the new age is threatened with the appearance of his successor, Shishio Makoto. Will Kenshin be able to fulfill his vow while protecting his friends and loved ones with just a reverse-blade sword? The burden of saving the whole nation weighs him down as he faces a much more powerful enemy apart from Shishio, and that is the ghost of hitokiri battousai that still dwells within him. “

Cr: Warner Bros. Pictures (Philippines)

The live-action film adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s renowned manga called Rurouni Kenshin has so far caused a stir among the fans all over the globe. The first movie set a strong foundation for the sequels that were (and will be) released this year. The frenzy surrounding the two new installments proved to be fairly justifiable as both movies raked in millions of dollar in gross income in Japan alone. Kyoto Inferno has also become a certified blockbuster hit when it was released in the Philippines last August 20. And it is no surprising if the third movie receives a much warmer response than before especially that thousands of moviegoers have already been flocking the cinemas since it was released this September.

So how did The Legend Ends conclude? That is the main concern of everyone who was left hanging in midair when Kyoto Inferno ended. And what Director Otomo and the rest of the cast gave the audience was something befitting of the story of the legendary battousai—a truly remarkable masterpiece that breathed life to the fictional characters and enabled the viewers to explore the world of Himura Kenshin.

It is true that some parts of the original story were altered, and it was also extremely regrettable that some scenes that I was looking forward to see were not even included in the film. But the climax of the movie was so breathtaking that not a single soul inside the cinema dared to move. Takeru Satoh and the rest of the actors portrayed their roles perfectly and all the stunts were executed flawlessly. The cinematography and choreography of the swordplay were nothing but pure brilliance. Though some bits of the script were changed, the director was still able to convey the whole meaning of the story about Himura Kenshin’s vow to protect the people with his sakabato as well as his significant connection with the rest of the characters. It’s truly unfortunate that most Juppongatana members were not given longer screen time but like I stated before, the main battle between Kenshin and Shishio Makoto fueled the void. And oh, did I forget to mention how Shishio’s sinister laughter and Soujiro’s deranged act sent goosebumps to my body? Those scenes are totally a must-see. The overall gripping and action-packed scenes were blended with just the right amount of comedy and romance, providing the audience with 100% satisfaction.

“I have an enemy I must defeat.” (Taken from the trailer of The Legend Ends)

Words are probably not effective enough to describe the ingenuity of this movie adaptation. Never in the previous years had I imagined that the infamous hitokiri would come to life through the portrayal of Takeru Satoh. Even those who are not originally fans of the manga and anime have shown great interest in the movies, and they have nothing but praise to offer as well. And now, I must say that I am extremely grateful to all the cast, director and production staff behind the creation of this live action film that is, by far, the best movie adaptation I have seen throughout the years. And with all the flashbacks about Himura Kenshin’s scar that were shown in the movie, I am fervently hoping that a prequel will be announced soon.

The movie starts with a short backstory from Kenshin’s childhood. Hiko Seijuro found the little boy digging up graves for the corpses lying around him. (Those were the bodies of the slaves that were ambushed by bandits. The bandits were killed as well by Seijuro who saved Kenshin.) Seijuro renamed the boy from Shinta to Kenshin, which, according to him, was more fitting for a swordsman. He took him in and trained him for several years under his guidance and teachings.

The scene is cut and Himura Kenshin abruptly rises from his sleep after dreaming about his past. He goes outside and is surprised to see his former master, and there, the two of them updated each other about their lives after their separation. He pleads his master to teach him the ultimate technique of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū to be able to defeat Shishio Makoto. After exchanging blows several times, Hiko Seijuro finally teaches Kenshin the succession technique after the latter realizes the significance of his life and his will to live. Right after that, Makimachi Misao arrives and assures Himura that Kaoru is alive while warning him about the government’s scheme. Ito Hirobumi, one of the prominent figures of the Meiji government, is coerced by Shishio to find Battousai and execute him in public. Hence, Himura Kenshin becomes the scapegoat of the government and declares him as a wanted criminal in Japan.

Kenshin goes back to Aoiya Inn with Misao and they find out that Okina is gone. The old member of Oniwaban group tries to stop Aoshi Shinomori for the last time despite the grave wounds on his frail body. Just as he clings on to Aoshi desperately, Kenshin arrives there together with Misao and the other Oniwabanshū member. Aoshi finally meets him and they immediately start to duel. After the breathtaking fight, Kenshin emerges as the winner while Aoshi is left severely injured. Kenshin doesn’t kill him even though Okina instructed him to do so. Misao takes Aoshi to the inn and tends to his wound after mourning the death of the elder Okina.

Himura Kenshin’s duel with the leader of Oniwabanshu, Aoshi Shinomori.

Kenshin stops by the Kamiya dojo and chances upon Takani Megumi who is currently looking after the residence. However, the police officers arrive and arrest Kenshin who eventually surrenders himself to avoid further dispute. He is then brought before Ito and after he assures him that he can defeat Shishio, they both frame a plan to enable Kenshin to get closer to his enemy. Their idea is to pretend as if he will really be decapitated in public just like what Shishio wants. Kaoru, Yahiko and Sanosuke, who have no idea about the plan, all show up at the execution site. They immediately go there after Kaoru was confined to the hospital where she was brought by the fishermen who saved her. To everyone’s surprise, instead of getting beheaded, the executioner, who turns out to be Saito Hajime, severs the ropes that tie Kenshin. That instance, a battle ensues between the police officers and Shishio’s henchmen, including some members of Juppongatana. (Unfortunately though, the duel between Saito and Usui that we have all been looking forward to is reduced to a brief encounter where Saito easily cuts through Usui.) Sanosuke accompanies Kenshin on his way aboard the Rengoku (Shishio’s ironclad battleship) while Kaoru and Yahiko are left at the site.

(Taken from the official trailer of The Legend Ends)

Several police officers also get on the ship to provide aid and assistance to the other two. Sanosuke, on the other hand, comes across a fallen Buddhist monk named Anji and gets critically injured despite his victory against his enemy. Meanwhile, Seta Sojiro greets Kenshin and the two immediately begin fighting. Sojiro manages to be on par with him at first but is later put at a disadvantage when he gradually starts showing his emotions, enabling Kenshin to defeat him. Sojiro has lived by the rule of Shishio Makoto, where he believed that “the strong live and the weak die”, and after being beaten by the Battousai, he starts to question himself and the decisions he has made. Kenshin tells him to spend his life seeking for the truth to enlighten himself, and the parting words that he gives him cause Sojiro to become deranged and unstable.

Sojiro wails and clutches his hair after getting defeated by Kenshin and being told to seek the truth by himself.

As Kenshin wanders inside the ship, he is welcomed by Hoji and his Gatling gun. However, Hoji is stopped by Shishio Makoto, and the Juppongatana leader finally confronts his predecessor. And at long last, the battle between the two hitokiri commences.

From Warner Bros. PH FB Page

At first, it is clearly apparent that Shishio is stronger than the Battousai, especially after that epic scene where he bites Kenshin on the shoulder and hurls him to the ground. That instance, Saito Hajime appears and Shishio fights him as well. His Gatotsu technique doesn’t seem to affect Makoto at all. In the middle of their duel, Sanosuke Sagara arrives and meddles in their fight but is also easily overpowered by the enemy. When both Saito and Sanosuke are cast aside, Shishio tries to attack Kenshin once again but is abruptly stopped by Aoshi Shinomori, who claims that he will be the one to defeat Kenshin. The four of them attack Shishio simultaneously while the latter flares his Mugenjin (Infinity Blade) which literally enables him to execute fire-oriented techniques. As the battle comes to its peak, only he and Kenshin remain on their feet, both exhausted from the gruelling combat. At one point, Shishio falls on his knees, and as Kenshin readies himself to deliver the final blow, Komagata Yumi, Shishio’s lover, stops Kenshin in his track. She pleads him to cease the fight since Shishio’s body can no longer withstand the abnormal rise of his body temperature. The doctor informed him earlier that he can only fight for a maximum of 15 minutes, since his sweat glands were burned and his body heat is higher than the normal level. And to Kenshin’s surprise, Shishio mercilessly pierces Yumi with his sword, impaling Kenshin in the process. He is utterly startled at how Shishio desires to kill him at any costs, even at the expense of Yumi’s life. However, Shishio refutes that she died happily knowing that she became of great use to his most important battle. He also asks the lifeless body of Yumi to wait for him in hell as he continues to fight Kenshin even if he already spits blood. Kenshin delivers his ultimate technique—the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki that his master Seijuro taught him. The technique proves to be extremely powerful as it slashes across Shishio’s body, which signals the end of their battle. After carrying Yumi’s body next to him, Shishio Makoto sends his farewell to his predecessor as his whole body combusts. His sinister laughter is heard while his body is surrounded by raging flames. Sanosuke supports Kenshin on their way to escape the collapsing battleship together with Aoshi and Saito.

As their boat reaches the shore, they are welcomed by Kaoru, Yahiko, Misao and Ito’s soldiers. Just as when they thought that Ito will still execute Kenshin even after knowing that he already defeated Shishio, Ito Hirobumi commands his soldiers to salute Himura Kenshin. Kamiya Kaoru then helps him walk and welcomes him home.

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Philippines FB Page

Back at the Kamiya dojo, Kenshin is seen viewing the serene surroundings while sipping his tea. Sanosuke is cooking and Yahiko is practicing kenjutsu with the new students. Kaoru sees Kenshin and sits next to him as they chat. Kenshin then stands up and picks a maple leaf and hands it to her. The movie concludes with Kenshin’s roundabout-like-proposal to Kaoru, asking her to continue watching over the new age with him, as he successfully puts an end to Shishio but most importantly, to the legend of Hitokiri Battousai that existed within him.

The sequels for the live-action film adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin are set to be screened in 53 countries. The schedules were announced during the Asian Premiere held in Manila, Philippines last August 6. *Kindly check this page for updates.*

For those hardcore fans of Rurouni Kenshin, the release of a live-action film adaptation was like a dream come true. Many got excited, while others were uncertain if the cast and director of the film would do justice to the original concept of Rurouni Kenshin. (Since we have already seen a lot of movie adaptations that were a big DISAPPOINTMENT.) The first RK movie was released in 2012, and though others were a bit disappointed with the slight changes in the story, the overall reception for the movie was good. Two years after, a two-part sequel is slated to be shown simultaneously in Japan and other countries in August and September.

The second and third films mainly tackle the Kyoto arc in the anime series. Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is now showing in local cinemas in the Philippines, and it already became a box-office hit in the country just like in Japan after grossing P7.3M on its opening day on August 20. And as a big fan of the manga and anime series, I was looking forward to the live adaptation of Kyoto arc. It is, in no doubt, one of the best parts of the series, and I’m sure that many of us fans are curious to know how the actors would breathe life to the characters in the anime. So I decided to compare the movie to its animated counterpart and make a list of comparison in both stories.

(Note: This contains spoilers about the second movie, Kyoto Inferno. In response to the changes made in the movie, Director Keishi Otomo stated some of the reasons why he opted to alter some parts of the story. Read the interview here.)

The movie started with Saito Hajime confronting Shishio and some of his subordinates, though the former failed to engage the latter in a combat.

In the anime though, the first meeting of the two was when Saito forayed Shishio’s mansion in Shingetsu village together with Kenshin.

Saito was first shown in the prelude episode of Kyoto arc, where he was instructed by Ōkubo Toshimichi to test the strength of Himura and check whether he would be capable enough to stop Shishio Makoto.

Yosuke Eguchi, the actor who played the character of Saito Hajime, was initially introduced in the first live-action filmRurouni Kenshin where the story revolved around Kenshin’s battles with Takeda Kanryu and Udō Jin-e.

When Kenshin decided to leave the dojo and go to Kyoto to stop Shishio, he appeared before Kaoru that night and bid her farewell. (And that scene really made me cry.)

In the movie, the setting was just slightly changed since the act was done during the day. And unlike the anime, it didn’t have any fireflies around (which for me, gave a more melancholic factor to the ambiance of the scene.) But nonetheless, the actors were able to capture the heartbreaking scene on their own way.

cr: Rurouni Kenshin るろうに剣心

Shinomori Aoshi’s first appearance in the movie was when he met Sanosuke on the way. They both didn’t know each other but they eventually engaged in a fight when Sano refused to tell him where Kenshin was. (Kenshin already left for Kyoto that time that was why Sano was temperamental. ) Since Aoshi was much stronger than him, he was severely bruised and before Aoshi could give his final blow, he was stopped by Megumi who came looking for Sanosuke. She introduced herself as a mere doctor who didn’t know anything about the rurouni, so Aoshi simply walked away. (Apparently, the Aoshi in this movie didn’t know who Megumi was.)

Aoshi was first introduced in the anime during Takani Megumi’s escape from Takeda Kanryū since he was employed by the latter to serve as his bodyguard together with other Oniwaban members. Therefore, the two of them already knew each other from the very start. Later on, when Aoshi began his quest to find Kenshin, he chanced upon Megumi who was left as the caretaker of the Kamiya residence when the others followed Kenshin to Kyoto. He threatened to kill her if she would not disclose Himura’s whereabouts but she still firmly refused. Saito Hajime arrived and told him the location of the battousai.

Aoshi threatens Megumi

In the original story, the two Oniwabanshu affiliates (Shinomori Aoshi and Kashiwazaki Nenji) dueled before the said upheaval in Kyoto. It was Nenji (or more commonly referred to as Okina) who challenged Aoshi in a battle to put an end to his wrongdoings especially when he decided to join Shishio’s faction as a means to kill Himura Kenshin.

The fight between Okina and Aoshi took place during the Kyoto commotion in the movie. That time, Aoshi hasn’t met Shishio yet and he was just looking for Kenshin himself. That was when he was confronted by the old man.

During the match of Kenshin and Cho the Sword Hunter, Misao, Okina, Seiku and his wife were all present. In the film, however, it was only Seiku who witnessed the fight. But before Kenshin gave the final blow to Cho, Yahiko and Kaoru both arrived, and the latter was shocked because she thought Kenshin killed his opponent. They all later realized that Cho didn’t die because the new sword was also a sakabato.

Shishio’s soldiers failed to burn the city of Kyoto since the Oniwaban members, together with Kaoru and Yahiko, prevented them from carrying out the plan. The other Juppongatana members decided to check what was happening and that was when Usui tried to kill Misao but then he was immediately stopped by Anji. Kenshin, Sanosuke and Saito, on the other hand, were chasing Shishio in the harbor.

In the live-action film, the three aforementioned characters helped the Oniwabanshu and police division extinguish the fire that threatened to burn Kyoto. That was when Sanosuke finally met Kenshin after he wandered to Kyoto on his own. Kenshin and Saito later realized that the plan to burn Kyoto was just a diversion, and as Kenshin began running towards Shishio’s location, he saw a horse carrying Seta Sojiro and Kamiya Kaoru who was knocked unconscious by the former.

During the Kyoto commotion

The movie continued with Kenshin chasing Sojiro and following him to the ship where Shishio and his Ten Swords were aboard. They all attacked him as Shishio tried to lure Hitokiri Battousai out of Himura Kenshin by taking Kaoru as their hostage. In the end, Hoji kicked her out of the gunship and she fell into the ocean. Kenshin then cleared his way out to jump in the water to rescue Kaoru, but he himself ended up being washed ashore in an island. It’s already revealed that the man who carried him to safety was his master, Hiko Seijūrō. That was when the movie concluded.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends Poster (Photo Cr: 映画『るろうに剣心』FB)

In the anime though, Kaoru wasn’t actually kidnapped by Shishio nor thrown out of his battleship Rengoku. Instead, Shishio’s warship was actually wrecked by the bombs given to Sano by his friend Katsu. Without any other choice, Shishio and his underlings had to evacuate the vessel, leaving the three behind. Shishio and Kenshin both agreed to settle their match at Mount Hiei where their epic battle took place.

======================================================

These were so far, the biggest changes done to the movie compared to the original story that I can remember. (I might as well update this one when I recall the others LOL.) The scenes were also not shot in the proper sequence. (Take for example, the appearance of Kenshin’s master, Hiko Seijuro. He will be introduced in the third installment instead.) The other Juppongatana members were also just briefly shown, but I’m expecting that they will be given more screen time in The Legend Ends. There are other minor differences in the film but given the limited time (as explained by the director), I must say that he and the whole production did an excellent adaptation to this world-renowned manga. I am a big fan of both the manga and the anime series, and I am now also in love with the live action movie. I instantly fell in love with it when I watched the first RuroKen movie, but after I saw the sequel, my obsession got even higher. 😛 I highly commend all the actors and actresses who perfectly portrayed their roles, especially Takeru Satoh who is like the real-life version of Himura Kenshin. Overall, Kyoto Inferno has a lot to offer to all the fans of Rurouni Kenshin. It’s an action-packed movie overflowing with sword techniques you never expected to see in reality. Its intense scenes would surely drive you to the edge of your seats as you breathlessly wait for the next one. As you glue your eyes to the screen, you would just find yourself laughing, crying, cheering, and sharing the same emotions with the characters (and the rest of the audience in the theater). It also gives us some knowledge about Japan’s history since some of the names are actually based on real Japanese figures. (Go search for them!) Personally, I would give the movie a rating of 8 out of 10. Or 9, perhaps? *big grin*

Bonus: MUST-SEE SCENES:

The duel between Kenshin and Sojiro (Like damn! Takeru and Ryunosuke were so nimble and proficient in using their katana that you would actually think they are the real deal. This brief duel would definitely leave a mark in your memories for a long time.)

All the parts of Sanosuke Sagara (I don’t understand why, but even though the scene was serious or dramatic, the audience would always laugh at him. He probably just looked funny no matter what. And just like Satoh and Kamiki, I believe that Aoki is Sanosuke’s reincarnation. HAHAHA!)

Aoshi Versus Okina. (Thumbs up to Mr. Min Tanaka, the actor who played the role of Okina. His age didn’t hinder him from doing all those stunts during his match with Yusuke Iseya, who was also surprised with the incredible strength he displayed during that shot.)

Himura Kenshin’s ORO moments (There were just a few, but they would definitely make you go awww when you hear Kenshin’s favorite expression. He too has his own share of brief comedic moments with Misao and the gang. )

HimuraBakkyusai (WAIT. WHAT? No, I didn’t misspell it. Bakkyusai was the name of the actor who parodied the infamous hitokiri during a stage play. The real Kenshin was watching and laughing along with his friends because of the actor’s antics. The audience’s laughter reverberated in the halls of the theater when this scene was played. )

Sagara Sanosuke’s epic fail. (This might just be included in the second list, but this one in particular cracked everyone up. It was the part where he was supposed to jump to the other side of the canal using a long bamboo stick. But like I said, it was an EPIC FAIL.)

There are a lot more scenes you have to watch out for, especially the ones that involve a sword fight with Himura Kenshin and his opponents (like Shishio’s subordinates in Shingetsu village). I believe that the highly anticipated finale will surpass this one. The hype is getting even higher as the date advances. Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends will premiere in Japan on September 13! Watch out for it!

To all the fans of Rurouni Kenshin and Lupin III in LA, worry not! LA Eiga Fest will bring you these live-action film adaptations together with other Japanese movies from September 12-14 at the Egyptian Theatre. The festival will kick off with the screening of Lupin III, starring Shun Oguri, on Friday, September 12. The movie, which is directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, premiered in Japan on August 30. Another critically-acclaimed live action film, Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno, which is directed by Keishi Ōtomo, will have its U.S premiere on September 14. The second installment of the widely-popular film stars Takeru Satoh, Takei Emi, Aoki Munetaka and Tatsuya Fujiwara.

Other Japanese films will be shown throughout the three-day festival. To know more about the schedule and events, kindly visit their website here.

To all the fans of Rurouni Kenshin in Singapore, the day that you have all been waiting for is about to come! The much-awaited sequel of the live movie adaptation of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s manga is going to be shown in Singapore on the 28th of August. You may check Warner Bros. Singapore to get more updates and details regarding the tickets and schedules of the screening. Don’t forget to catch the awesomeness of Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno in your favorite cinemas tomorrow!

Warner Bros. Japan updated their website with a short trailer from the third installment of the live-action film adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin. It is set to be released in Japan on the 13th of September, following the successful screening of Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno last August 1. The second film is currently showing in the Philippines and has so far earned more than P40M in ticket sales four days after it was released in the country.

The trailer for The Legend Ends is now updated with several subtitles such as English, French, Spanish, Tagalog, Korean and Chinese. So for those who haven’t seen this yet, go check out the website!